Apparatus for distilling hydrocarbon oils



y 1933- H. G. SCHNETZLER 1,916,690

APPARATUS FOR DISTILLING HYDROCARBON OILS Original Filed March 10, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet l y 4, 1933- I H. G. SCHNETZLER 1,916,690

APPARATUS FOR DISTILLINCF HYDROCARBON OILS Original Filed March 10, 1927 1 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented July 4, 1933 UNITED STATES PATE T OF HARRY G. SCHNETZL'ER, or HAMMOND, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR. 'ro STANDARD OIL oom- PANY, OF WHITING, .INDIANAQA CORPORATION. OF INDIANA APPARATUS FOR DISTILLING HYnRocAnBoN OILS Original application filed March 10, 1927, Serial No. 174,180, new Patent No.- 1, 779,9i1 8, dated October 28, 1930. Divided andthis application filedMay 24, 1930. Serial No. 455,314.

This invention relates to an apparatus for distilling hydrocarbon oils and particularly to a distillation apparatus comprising a fractionating column and means forreturnm' a part of the condensate to serve as 'reffux therein. I 4 I This application represents a. division of my application Serial No. 174,180 which 1119.- turedinto United States Patent No. 1,779,918 on October 28, 1930.

from the following description of the preferred embodiment illustrated in'the accom- V panying drawings, in which,--

Figure 1 is'an elevation partly in section of the general apparatus, 1 I 1 1 Fig. 2 is a sectional elevationof the dis-f tributing box on the line 2-2 of Fig; 4, v

Fig. 3 is a sectionalplan on the broken line 3- 3of Fig. 2,

Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation on the line 44 of Fig. 2, and I '3 Q g Fig. 5 is a perspective view of one of the partitions 25. I

' Referring to the drawings,- 9 is a still provided with suitable means for heating, such as the furnace 10 or the closed steam pipe 1101' both. The still may also be provided with open steam pipes 12. The still isprov ided with an oilsupply pipe 13, a draw-oil pipe 14, and a vapor outlet which leads into a fractionating column '16 which may suitablybe of'the bubbleecaptype. The upper partof the still 9 andthe column'16 are preferably heavily lagged. From the 7 top of the fractionating column 16 a vapor outlet 17" leads to a condenser 18, from which a liquid outlet 19 leads to a distributing box 20 "Thebox 20 is preferably elongated and near its rear end is provided with a weir or partition 21 leaving aclearance between it and the top and bottom of the box. From an intermediatepoint of the partition 21 a horizontal partition 22 extends forwardly and between the forward end of the partition 22 and the bottom of the box isa vertical partition 23. The partitions 21, v22 and 23 extend across the box anddivideit into two parts which communicate only through the clearance above the top partition 21. The upper edge of the weir or partition 21 is horizontal so that the flow of liquid thereover is uniform. Between the partition 21 and 23 The invention will readily be understood '16. A balanced va'lve46 is is located a weir or partition 24 which extends across the box and from the bottom of the box to a height'somewhat' below the horizontal partition 22. 'The box is provided with longitudinal partitions 25, of the form illustrated in Fig. 5, located to cooperate with the walls of the box and the partitions 21, 22 and 24 so as to divide the box rearwardly of partitions 21 and 24 into a plurality of separate compartments designated 26, 27, 28 and 29 on the drawings. The partitions '25 are preferably spaced apartby predetermined amounts so that the compartments 26, 27, 28 and 29 will receive correspondingly predetermined proportions of the liquid passing over the weir 21. For example, as illustrated, the widths of the compartments 26, 27, 28

and 29 are in the proportions 2; 8; 4; 3, so that compartment 26 receives 2/17of the, liquid passing over the weir 21, cornpa'rtmentv 27 receives 8/17, compartment 28 receives 4/17 and compartment 29 receives 3/17. A pipe 30 leads from the bottom of the box, between partitions 23 and 24, to a storage tank 31. -From' each of the compartments 26,

27, 28 and 29, pipes 32, 33, 34 and 35,respectively, provided with valves 36, 37, 38 and 39- lead to aimanifold 40 which leads to a tank 41. In the forward part of the box 20 is pro.- vided a baflle 42 which extends across the box andabove the liquid level therein, leaving a c'learancebelow its/lower edge, so that the condensate fed in by pipe 19 is presented to the weir 21 man orderly flow.

. From the lower part of tank 41, a pipe 43 leadsto a pump .44, which'feeds into a, pipe 45 which leads into the upper part of column 7 provided in pipe 45 and is adapted to be controlled by a float 47 in tank 41, said float being connected to the valve by a cord '48. In place of the pump 44, any other suitable means may be provided for supplying reflux to the fractionating column 16. For example, the vapors may be condensed at an elevated position and a part maybe allowed to flow to the column 16 bypgravity.

The numeral 49 designates a water trap which is provided with a water drawofi' l is supplied to both the closed and open steam pipes 11 and 12. The vapors pass-upward ly through the fractionating column 16, be-

ing intimately contacted therein with reflux supplied by turned as reflux is determined by opening oneor more of valves 36, 87, 38, 39. For example, if compartment 27 receives 8/17 of the condensate and if valve 37 is opened,

that amount passes through pipe 33 and manifold 40 to tank 41 for use as reflux. If,

' however, the valve 37 visclosed the condensate collects in compartment 27 until it overflows weir 24 and passes to the storage tank 31. The condensate passing into compartments 26, 28. and 29 can be supplied either to the storage tank 31 or reflux tank 41 at will. -The amount of reflux supplied is capable ofvery accurate automatic control. For

example, with the specific proportions given it is possible to return as reflux the following fractions of the condensate:

v and any It is preferred to operate pump 44 continuously allowing the flow through pipe 45 to .be controlled by valve 46 which is automatically operated from the float 47.

While certain definite proportions have been mentioned regard to the spacing of the partitions 25it must be understood that these proportions are by way of example only and that any other desired proportions, desired number of partitions'may be employed. r

I Although the present invention has been described in connection with the details of a specific embodiment thereof, it is not intended that such details shall be regarded as limitations upon the scope of the invention, except in so far as included in theaccompanying claims.

1. An apparatus for distilling hydrocarbon oils comprising a still, a fractionating column. a condenser, a plurality of fixed means for dividing; the total condensate in predetermined and definitely fixed proportions into more than two parts and means for returning any number of selected parts of said condensate to'the fractionating column for reflux therein.

for returning said stream 2. An apparatus for distilling hydrocarcolumn, a condenser, a weirhavingahorizontal crest over which theitota'l condensate is adapted to flow, a plurality .of', partitions spaced at fixed predetermined intervals ad- -iacent and at right angles to said weir to divide the flow into more than two parts of definite proportion,means for returning each of said parts to the fractionating column for reflux therein or to a collecting receptacle as desired. j p

3. An apparatus for distilling hydrocarbon oils, comprising a still, a fractionating column, a condenser, a weir having a horizontal crest over which the total condensate is adapted to flow, a plurality of partitions spaced at fixed and predetermined intervals adjacent and at right angles. to said weir to divide the flow into more than two parts-0f definite proportion, conduits for returning each of said parts to the fractionating column for reflux therein, Valves for stopping the flow of condensate through each of said conduits and overflow means whereby the condensate parts are adapted to overflow to a storage receptacle when theflow through the conduits is thus prevented.

4. In distilling apparatus,a still, a fractionating column, a condenser, a plurality of means for dividing the total condensate into more than two parts bearing a prede termined and definitely fixed proportion to the volume of the condensate, means forcom- .bon oils comprising a still, a fractionating bining any number of selected parts into aqstream without further regulation of the volume of the individual parts, and means to saidfractionating column. v

' 5. Distilling apparatus comprising, a still, 1

afractionating column, a condenser,.'a plurality of means for continuously dividing the total condensate in predetermined "and definitely fixed proportions into more than two parts, and means for returning the selected part or parts of said condensate to the fractionating column without further regulation of the volume of the individual selected part or parts.

6. -Distilling apparatus comprising a still,

a fractionating column, a condenser, means for dividing the total condensate into more than two parts, each part being a fixed and definite fraction of the total volume of the condensate, collecting means for each divided part, and means for returning to thefractmn'ating column any selecteddivided part or combination of divided parts whereby a predetermined fixed and definite-fraction of the total condensate may be continuously returned to the tower as reflux liquid.

' HARRY G. SCHNETZLER. 

